The Miami Dolphins continue turning over plenty of little rocks trying to find talent before free agency and the NFL draft process gets into gear.

That’s Jeff Ireland’s thing as General Manager, and he’s taken that approach every offseason. This year a handful of players signed futures contracts this month, and one CFL standout, Marcus Thigpen, was added to the bunch.

Truth is…. this is really old news, but for some reason the team just acknowledged the re-signing of receiver Chris Hogan, nose tackle Isaako Aaitui, safety Vincent Agnew, cornerback Marcus Brown, linebacker Jonathan Freeny and safety Anderson Russell.

They all ended last season on the team’s practice squad roster. Miami re-signed them a week after the season concluded.

Aaitui, a athletic nose tackle, is probably the most talented player in the group. Freeny, a former Rutgers standout, also showed a little something during last year’s training camp before getting released and spending the season with the Chicago Rush (Arena ball). However, it’s telling that the former Rutgers player wasn’t offered a practice squad spot last year.

But all of these signings should be viewed as long shots to make the 53-man roster. That means they are training camp bodies unless someone drastically improves their game, winning over the new coaching staff.

Veteran cornerback Jonathan Wade was also re-signed to a contract that has a cap value of $552,500.

Wade spent a couple of weeks on the roster when Vontae Davis was nursing his hamstring injury, but he was ultimately cut after two games. However, the team re-signed him at the end of the season. In fact, Wade attended the team’s final meeting (which I found a little odd at the time).

Coincidentally, Wade played for the Bengals in 2010, which means he’s already played for new defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle. That season Wade started three of the four games he played with the Bengals, and contributed 14 tackles. But he wasn’t re-signed, which is telling.

Thigpen is the one newcomer who might be intriguing considering he showed some sizzle as a returner in the CFL.

Thigpen, who played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats last season, had a brief stints with Philadelphia and Denver in the NFL, but played in the CFL the past three seasons.

Of course this signing is in the same mold as Ryan Grice-Mullen, who had a cup of coffee with the Dolphins in 2010 before being waived early in training camp.

Or how about safety Mark Restelli, who was signed from the Edmonton Eskimos last year, and did very little to prove he’s worthy of an NFL roster spot.

But you never know….

Thigpen was a tailback at Indiana, but the Dolphins have him listed as a receiver. His CFL coach told me that’s the best spot for him considering he’s going to earn his NFL stripes as a return specialist, and special teams contributor.

Last season Thigpen caught 28 passes for 382 yards and two touchdowns in for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and gained 82 yards and scored one rushing touchdown on his 23 carries.

For those who want to point out that Cameron Wake made it to the NFL and became a starter, if not star, I’d like to point out Wake signed a four-year, $4.9 million contract that paid him a $1 million signing bonus coming from the CFL.

Thigpen received a $2,500 signing bonus from the Dolphins.

That should help you put it in perspective.

But it should be fun to watch Thigpen try to become the next Chris Williams or Phillip Livas. Dolphins fans do love themselves a return specialist.

Comments (1,022 Comments)

OMAR KELLY was unsuccessful at achieving his childhood dream to become a super hero, so he figured he'd do the next best thing and become a journalist who fights against injustice, and searches for truth. After being bored to death reporting news and covering politics, he switched to sports.
More

IZZY GOULD joined the Sun Sentinel in Feb. 2012 as a Senior Sports Reporter on the Miami Dolphins beat. He came to South Florida fresh off covering the University of Alabama football program, including its 2011 national championship team. More